Soft sampler of the year

Shipping with a revised audio engine, a slicker interface and 12 synth engines that can be used either independently or in conjunction with the sampling one, the third version MachFive feels like it turns the software into what we’ve always wanted it to be.

There are improved loop, timestretching and pitchshifting options, a huge number of effects and a 45GB sample library that gives you all manner of high quality acoustic and electronic instruments.

All of which means that MachFive has well and truly moved out of Kontakt’s shadow: it’s an equal to it in most respects, and actually trumps it in several others.